1Raise a glad cry, you barren one#Jerusalem, pictured as a wife who had been barren and deserted, now suddenly finds herself with innumerable children (the returning exiles); cf. Gal 4:27 for an application to a new context. who never bore a child,

break forth in jubilant song, you who have never been in labor,

For more numerous are the children of the deserted wife

than the children of her who has a husband,

says the Lord.#a. [54:1] Gal 4:27.

2Enlarge the space for your tent,

spread out your tent cloths unsparingly;

lengthen your ropes and make firm your pegs.#b. [54:2] Is 49:20.

3For you shall spread abroad to the right and left;

your descendants shall dispossess the nations

and shall people the deserted cities.#Those who had taken advantage of the exile to encroach on Jerusalem’s territory will be driven out, and the returning exiles will repopulate the cities of Judah.

4#As with some other Old Testament themes, Second Isaiah uses that of Israel as the Lord’s bride in a new manner. Whereas Hosea and Jeremiah had depicted Israel as the Lord’s spouse to emphasize both Israel’s infidelity and the Lord’s continued love (Hos 1–3; Jer 2:2; 3:1–15) and Ezekiel to accuse Israel unsparingly (Ez 16; 23), Second Isaiah speaks only of the love with which the Lord restores the people, speaking tender words with no hint of reproach. Do not fear, you shall not be put to shame;

do not be discouraged, you shall not be disgraced.

For the shame of your youth you shall forget,

the reproach of your widowhood no longer remember.

5For your husband is your Maker;

the Lord of hosts is his name,

Your redeemer,#Redeemer: cf. note on 41:14. the Holy One of Israel,

called God of all the earth.

6The Lord calls you back,

like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,

A wife married in youth and then cast off,

says your God.#c. [54:6] Mal 2:14–15.

7For a brief moment I abandoned you,

but with great tenderness I will take you back.

8In an outburst of wrath, for a moment

I hid my face from you;

But with enduring love I take pity on you,

says the Lord, your redeemer.

9This is for me like the days of Noah:

As I swore then that the waters of Noah

should never again flood the earth,

So I have sworn now not to be angry with you,

or to rebuke you.#d. [54:9] Gn 9:15.

10Though the mountains fall away

and the hills be shaken,

My love shall never fall away from you

nor my covenant of peace#Covenant of peace: this whole section, vv. 9–17, is given to various assurances of God’s love for Israel and of safety from various possible threats; the phrase sums up both the positive aspects of shalom, which implies a fullness of blessing, and protection from all that might harm. Cf. also 55:3; Nm 25:12; Ez 34:25; 37:26; Mal 2:5. be shaken,